While each person’s skincare routine varies somewhat, there are some basic principals that apply to practically everyone.
Cleansing is essential. Treat spots with toner. Don’t use oils on oily
skin. These are the common-sense guidelines we’ve all been taught to
follow.
But what if we told you these so-called rules are actually wrong?
Katie White, founder of Re:lax skin studio in Hackney, says some of the
advice doled out by the skincare industry is actually harming our
complexions, rather than helping them.
Here, she explains five common skin myths and why we’re wrong to believe them…
Myth 1: You need to cleanse in the morning
Washing your face is the first step in most people’s morning routine, but you don’t actually need to use cleanser.
“It isn’t necessary to cleanse in the morning if you are cleansing
properly at night before bed,” says White. “As a golden skincare rule,
you absolutely should be removing all your make-up and hydrating your
skin before going to sleep.
“If you are doing this, you can just simply splash your face with warm
water in the morning. Using a cleanser again is just a waste.”
Whether morning or night, you certainly shouldn’t be washing away all
those lovely oils with soap or a foaming cleanser. “If you wake up and
your skin feels greasy or still caked in product, and you feel the need
to wash your face for that fresh feeling, I would recommend using
lighter products before bed, rather than resorting to using a harsh
cleanser in the morning to get that ‘squeaky clean’ feeling,” adds
White.
Myth 2: Use harsh cleansers or toners if you have acne-prone skin
When you’re suffering a breakout of spots, it may seem sensible to try to dry them out with strong treatments and toners.
“Acne skin is inflamed and the skin is compromised; we shouldn’t be
putting acids and alcohol on inflamed broken skin, we should be using
gentle products,” says White.
“Also, over-cleansing with a foaming cleanser that leaves skin squeaky
clean will encourage further oil production, increase inflammation and
can prevent skin from healing.
“Look for non-stripping cleansers, anti-inflammatory toners and products that are kind to skin.”
Myth 3: Don’t use oils if you have oily or acne-prone skin
Similarly, when your skin is oily, the last thing you want to do is add more oil into the mix, right? Wrong.
“Oiliness can be caused by many different reasons, including stress,
diet and genetics, but it can also be caused by lack of hydration,” says
White. “Our skin is designed to have an oily layer called the ‘acid
mantle’, this is our first line of defence.
“Using harsh products can strip this back, so then the skin sends
signals to the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Using oils can have
the opposite effect; it can decrease oil production as the skin
recognises it is hydrated.”
White recommends using lighter oils like jojoba, marula or squalene.
Myth 4: Extractions get rid of blackheads
Love them or hate them, extractions are a part of many facial
treatments, when the therapist uses a tool or their fingers to squeeze
blackheads from your pores.
“Blackheads form when oil that comes through pores to keep skin hydrated, oxidises with air and turns black,” White explains.
“By squeezing/extracting, some oil comes out and some is pushed further
down into the epidermis. This causes inflammation and can push bacteria
into the skin – perfect spot forming ingredients!”
The best way to tackle blackheads, she advises, is with acids such as salicylic or beta hydroxy acids, or using clays.
Myth 5: If a product burns or hurts that means it’s working
Some products like exfoliating masks have got to sting a bit if they’re doing their job properly, haven’t they?
“No!” says White. “More likely it means you are having a reaction to the product and you should discontinue using it.
“Skin is complex and delicate in different ways, and not every product
suits every skin type. If something is damaging the skin, it is
definitely doing more harm than good.”
White has a rule of thumb to tell whether a product is too harsh for
your skin: “Pink is good, red is bad. If you have sensitive skin, use
more calming ingredients.”
Source: lifestyledaily
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